Kirklees Council Planning Applications: Gomersal residents fear plans for scores of new homes will damage their village

The planning application submitted to Kirklees Council by Quarters Gomersal Ltd is for development on green fields behind 271 Cliffe Lane.

To create access to the land, the existing property at number 271 would need to be demolished, as was approved in a previous application from a different applicant

In 2019, outline planning permission was granted for 98 homes. However, this later fell through.

More than 50 comments have been received in response to the new application – primarily from concerned residents, fearing for the impact the development could have on the area.

Concerns over increased traffic levels, a lack of privacy and a detrimental impact on wildlife are among the issues raised.

One objector wrote: “The consequential loss of the mature trees, in the fields, and the effect upon the natural environment will be to the detriment of the local landscape and change the character of the area and diminish the local amenity that I and many other local residents have enjoyed, and change the character of that part of Gomersal from semi-rural to intensive housing.”

The design and access statement on behalf of the applicant says that the previous application that was approved demonstrated that “all technical issues can be addressed”.

The statement concludes: “Overall, we consider this application demonstrates a deliverable solution for an allocated site.

"The proposal shows that all issues arising from development have been assessed and mitigation measures have been developed, as a result to make the development acceptable.”